Blackhawks Vs Predators: Predators Resume After Olympic Break with Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Nashville
The Nashville Predators host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday as NHL play resumes following a three-week Olympic break in the matchup blackhawks vs predators, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p. m. ET. The game matters because Nashville returns to a tight wild-card chase and will balance roster decisions with a season charity night tied to pediatric cancer research.
Blackhawks Vs Predators at Bridgestone Arena
This is the third of four meetings between the division rivals this season; the series is split entering the night. The teams last met in Nashville about six weeks ago when Chicago posted a 3-0 victory behind a 36-save shutout by rookie goaltender Drew Commesso. Since that game, Nashville went on a short run of three wins before slipping to five losses in six games heading into the break.
The matchup begins at 7 p. m. CT (8 p. m. ET) and will be available on the national streaming service carrying the broadcast. Nashville enters the contest with 26 wins and 59 points through 57 games, while Chicago’s record stands at 22-26-9 with 53 points in the Western Conference. Nashville sits roughly four points behind the second wild-card spot, trailing a cluster of teams fighting for the same postseason positions.
Coach Andrew Brunette framed the return from the break as a moment that increases urgency: goaltender Juuse Saros and forward Erik Haula have returned from the Olympics with bronze medals but are being treated as game-time decisions and will be reassessed before the lineup is finalized. Brunette’s approach reflects a clear cause-and-effect pathway: the Olympic hiatus created both rest and roster uncertainty, and that uncertainty will affect who is available when the Predators need immediate points ahead of the trade deadline.
Justus Annunen Mask Auction and Predators Roster Moves
Thursday’s game also marks Nashville’s second Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the season, focused on raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Predators goaltender Justus Annunen will wear a custom mask designed by pediatric cancer patients; Vaughn Pro Choice donated the mask and David Gunnarsson of DaveArt provided the paint work. Fans can bid on the mask by texting the code ANNUNEN to 76278. The auction closes Thursday, March 12 at 8 p. m. CT.
On the personnel front, Nashville recalled forwards Zach L’Heureux and Matthew Wood from Milwaukee on the Sunday before the game. The club also reassigned goaltender Matt Murray to Milwaukee after he had served as a practice goaltender while Saros was at the Olympics. Those official moves demonstrate how the break altered roster needs: recalls supply depth immediately, while reassignments adjust the goaltending picture for both practice and regular-season contingencies.
Key contributors to Nashville’s current totals include Ryan O’Reilly with 20 goals and 56 points, Filip Forsberg at 24 goals and 47 points (24 G, 23 A), Steven Stamkos with 28 goals and 44 points, and Luke Evangelista, who has 34 assists and 42 points. Juuse Saros carries a 21-17-5 record on the season, while Annunen is 5-7-2. Those figures outline the team’s production balance and underscore why immediate outcomes matter: strong showings now could influence the Predators’ posture at the trade deadline and their push for a playoff berth.
What makes this notable is that the Predators must pivot quickly from a period of rest and Olympic travel to a condensed late-season schedule — a short turnaround that tends to reward teams that start with urgency. Captain Roman Josi emphasized that the team with more urgency coming out of the break typically gains the advantage, and winger Luke Evangelista stressed the need for immediate points and momentum building for the games before the deadline.
Chicago’s younger players and defensive alignments will be monitored closely, with previous matchups and recent call-ups shaping expectations. For Nashville, the combination of roster adjustments, returning Olympians under evaluation, and the fundraising spotlight creates a packed set of stakes for a single night at Bridgestone Arena.
